I was a recent guest on "Keeping it Real with Al Sharpton" (audio is below). I like Rev. Al, and for some reason, this was the first time I've appeared on his show. I've appeared on Rev. Jesse Jackson's radio show at least 30 times over the past 2 or 3 years and I've interacted with Al through that venue. Al runs a good show, and I was impressed. I tend to be picky about radio show hosts, since some of them are very bad. Shows with very well known hosts tend to be the worst, since the host enjoys hearing himself speak more than the guest. Rev. Al didn't have that problem. In the midst of his own commentary, he always makes sure there is room for other guests, callers, etc.
Yes, he is a controversial and imperfect figure, I will certainly give you that. But he is also a force to be reckoned with. He manages delicate diplomatic relationships with the intellect of a PhD, but he backs his words up with enough action to let you know he's serious. Here are a few observations I have about the Rev. Al Sharpton.
1) He is a mobilizer unlike any other - Al Sharpton's ability to activate, assemble, organize and scare the living *&^% out of his adversaries is no doubt a reflection of his roots in urban New York. Anyone who spends time in NYC knows that New Yorkers don't have time for BS, they don't usually worry about whether or not you like them, and they will get in your face if necessary. Al Sharpton is a larger-than-life reflection of this New York reality.
2) He is politically savvy - I was curious and observant about how Rev. Al would measure the growing influence of Barack Obama vs. his pre-existing relationship with Hillary Clinton. Al played it like a pro - not taking sides too soon, and leaving all doors open. He didn't make any public mistakes during the election and kept himself in a good position after Obama was in the White House.
3) He is a man of action - Most public figures just talk and don't do much of anything. Sharpton is not in that category. One of my favorite sayings is that "The proof is in the potato salad." Rev. Sharpton keeps the potato salad flowing for days by measuring his ideology against real and concrete activities leading to the specified objective.
4) The President respects him - I was as shocked as anyone to see Rev. Sharpton stepping out giving press conferences on the White House lawn. But it's apparent that Barack Obama is noticing the same things that I'm noticing, which is why Sharpton was, to my knowledge, one of the first African American leaders to meet with the president.
5) He stands up for those who have no voice - This is one of the reasons many people in black America turn to Al Sharpton with their problems. He doesn't just yell about racial profiling when he is the victim, he yells about it when the victim is an anonymous black man or woman in a town he has never seen. I listened to Rev. Al respond to a caller who asked why her Section 8 Housing requires her to release medical records and other personal information. I was curious to see how Al would handle the complicated call: rather than dodging the issue and moving on (which most hosts would have done), he asked the woman several poignant questions and then referred her to the local chapter of the National Action Network. This is the kind of organization that can lead to real and lasting progress.
I admit that I was always one of the people who laughed about Sharpton's perm back in the day. I still expect that Rev. Al, like other leaders, possesses imperfections that wouldn't look very good in the public eye. But when measured against other leaders, politicians and public figures, we've got to give "dap" where it is due. Al Sharpton is a man who knows how to get things done and he is very good for America.
To listen to my conversation with Rev. Sharpton, please click the audio file below. Enjoy!
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Distinguished Scholar with the Barbara Jordan Institute for Policy Research at Texas Southern University.
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